Saint Cloud, MINN— Health insurance premium rates through the failed $400 million MNsure website have reached historic levels. Preliminary rate increases were released through Healthcare.Gov on Thursday afternoon. Minnesota families and individuals who buy insurance on their own could pay an average increase around 60 percent, the highest average increase of any year since Governor Dayton and Democrats established MNsure.
Thursday’s preliminary rate increases are on top of increases of up to 17 percent and 49 percent in the past two years. Over 75 percent of people who buy health insurance on their own do not receive any financial assistance from MNsure.
Representative Tama Theis (R-St. Cloud) released the following statement regarding MNsure rate increases:
"For the third year in a row, folks across Central Minnesota are seeing significant increases in the cost of their health insurance and an exchange that’s just not working. Those who created MNsure promised Minnesotans significant savings on their health plans, but instead it’s another round of average double-digit percent increases. This is a significant financial burden for too many families, and provides clear evidence that MNsure has fallen far short of its purpose—to provide affordable health care for Minnesotans.
I will continue to advocate for meaningful reforms that reduce the cost of health care, provide more choice for Minnesotans and stop wasting taxpayer dollars on our broken health care exchange, MNsure.”